Minneapolis parking garage stabbing victim 'died a hero'

MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - People are mourning the loss of a 31-year-old woman who died while protecting her friends during a stabbing and robbery at a downtown Minneapolis parking garage.

Police are adding extra patrols around the ramps and near the busy entertainment districts downtown.

Colleagues of a 31-year-old mother, who was stabbed in Ramp B, say she will be greatly missed. They say Mai Yer Chang was a wonderful person and a mother of a six-year-old child.

Chang worked in customer care at Comcast's center in Minnetonka.

The company released a statement Thursday saying in part, "We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of one of our employees. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to her family and friends during this most difficult time, including the many people she worked with here at Comcast."

Friends say she died a hero as she tried to defend the group from a man attacking them for a purse.

A spokesman for Minneapolis police say her friends were vital to arresting the suspect.

"Her friends were able to give a description,” said Police Officer Corey Schmidt. “They were a huge help in this case being able to say exactly where they were what route they traveled, which helped the investigators."

44-year-old Benjamin Love received upgraded charges of second degree murder Wednesday after Chang died from her injuries.

According to police, Love has a criminal past and was wanted on a warrant before he stabbed Chang. Love is currently in jail on a million dollar bond.

Police say they're doing everything they can to make people feel safe downtown.

"We're hoping with these extra officers down there, specifically focusing on those foot beats, they're able to provide more attention to some of those other issues,” said Schmidt. “Maybe it's loitering or something else, but providing a safer environment for people coming down."

Although there are security cameras in the elevators at the parking ramps, there are no cameras on the parking levels. Police and downtown business groups are working to change that.